Courtesy of The Joint Blog Arizona Superior Court Judge Michael Gordon has overturned a zoning ordinance in Maricopa County which, according to the judge, is a “transparent attempt” to keep medical cannabis dispensaries out of unincorporated areas of the county. The ruling came as part of a pretrial verdict in favor of White Mountain Health Center, which plans to open a dispensary in Sun City. In his verdict, Judge Gordon said that the ordinance amounts to an effective ban on dispensaries in some of the county’s cities, and noted that there is no available property in Sun City that meets the county’s requirements. Gordon

I just read an article about Arizona medical marijuana dispensary owners who were wary to support marijuana legalization efforts in their state. I was saddened to read an article like that, because I personally believe that marijuana legalization should be supported by everyone. The article I read questioned the motives of the dispensary owner’s opinions, suggesting that the medical marijuana dispensary owners didn’t want recreational outlets competing for their customers. AZCentral.Com stated in it’s article, “some other dispensary operators said they are concerned about their financial investments and question how legalizing recreational use, which could increase the number of dispensaries,

Yesterday the marijuana community was shocked to learn that John McCain has been talking about marijuana legalization. I know I was certainly shocked. Arizona Daily Star columnist Tim Steller, McCain stated the following comments at a town hall meeting in Arizona, “Maybe we should legalize. We’re certainly moving that way as far as marijuana is concerned. I respect the will of the people.” The comments were so simple, so rational, and so, well, so something I wouldn’t expect a veteran politician like John McCain to say. I read the comments while I was at work yesterday, and almost fell out

By Doug Fine Inside Tucson’s Tumbleweeds Health Center, a dignified, top-shelf cannabis club and education center owned by two young health care professionals, Kim Williams and Dana Zygmunt, the first three members I met on a recent visit were exactly the outsider’s stereotype of Arizonans. Not Arizonan cannabis aficionados and patients. Just Arizonans. Which is to say older, politically conservative, and military-affiliated, respectively. And this explains why the Drug Peace is about to break out nationwide: the right side of the political spectrum is on the same bus as the left. Across party lines, Americans grok that the nation will

Since August 2012, Arizona has seen 98 registration certificates awarded for those wanting to open medical marijuana dispensaries. Last December saw the opening of the first dispensary, Organix of Clark County, in Arizona, and 16 were reportedly open in late April 2013. However, Arizona state government has not been the industry’s biggest supporter. Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne, Rep. John Kavanagh of Fountain Hills, and Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery have all done their part to derail progress for medical marijuana, and you can find those details here. Luckily, the courts have supported the will of the voters against challenges to the

The Arizona Supreme Court recently ruled that a medical marijuana patient whose medicine is taken by police is entitled to get it back if the patient was determined to have been in legal possession of it at the time of the interaction. That’s what happened to California medical marijuana patient Valerie Okun, whose medicine was taken nearly two years ago near Yuma, Arizona (Arizona recognizes out of state patients). She was never prosecuted, and wanted her medicine back. The Arizona Supreme Court ruled in her favor, saying that the police need to return her medicine. Case closes right? Wrong. The

By Phillip Smith The race to be the next state to legalize marijuana at the ballot box is on. Activists in three states — Alaska, Arizona, and Oregon — have taken initial steps to get the issue before the voters during the 2014 general election. In Alaska, Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell last Friday certified a ballot initiative application that would legalize the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana by adults. Backed by the Marijuana Policy Project, the initiative would also set up a system of taxed and regulated marijuana commerce. Adults could grow up to six marijuana plants for their personal use.

Recent nationwide polls have shown that a majority of all Americans support marijuana legalization. Survey data released this week by Behavior Research Center shows even stronger support at the state level in Arizona. Behavior Research Center asked respondents whether or not they favored or opposed legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use, 56% responded they favored the idea and only 37% were opposed. Marijuana legalization had support from all age groups, across all counties and with both Democrats and Independents. Commenting on the results, Behavior Research Center stated: “It is perhaps ironic that as support for same-sex marriage and

Governor Jan Brewer officially signed legislation in Arizona, approving it into law, which would allow colleges in the state to conduct marijuana research. The state’s House and Senate approved the measure last month. The bill would remove a provision that was placed in a piece of 2012 legislation which banned all marijuana from college campuses, even if the marijuana was possessed or consumed by a qualifying patient in the state, or was being used for scientific research. The measure’s importance is exemplified by the fact that physician Sue Sisley of the University of Arizona received federal approval in 2011 to study the

This will be Arizona’s FIRST and LARGEST, “PRO MMJ USE” event!! 60 HOURS of non-stop PRO MMJ Entertainment!! * LIVE GLASS BLOWING * FOOD * LIVE ART * TATTOO ARTISTS * RAFFLES * MASSAGE THERAPISTS * GUEST SPEAKERS; CULTIVATION,LEGAL,MEDICAL,SCIENCE, * VENDORS * MINI FARMER’S MARKET * LIVE DJ’S * CONCERTS *ON-SITE DOCTORS *AND MUCH MORE TBA!! *DISPENSARIES HOLDING A JOB FAIR! The 4/20 weekend will be a 3-day festival where the top 10 from every category will compete for the championship!! New Times Best of Phoenix Property 6 will be playing an intimate acoustic set at the first event, jamming